Mobile terminal device, storage medium and sound output control method

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal device includes: a telephone communication speaker and a control module. The telephone communication speaker includes: a first speaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output and vibration waves generated by vibrations of one surface of a housing according to vibrations corresponding to the sounds to be output, thereby to transfer the sounds to a user; and a second speaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output. In case of execution of a function to output sounds from the telephone communication speaker, when a predetermined trigger action is not made, the control module executes first control in which the first speaker outputs sounds but the second speaker does not output sounds, and when the trigger action is made, the control module executes second control in which at least the second speaker outputs sounds.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 of JapanesePatent Application No. 2012-097985 filed on Apr. 23, 2012, entitled“MOBILE TERMINAL DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND SOUND OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD”. Thedisclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mobile terminal devices such as mobiletelephones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), tablet PCs, electronicbook readers, more specifically to mobile terminal devices includingtelephone communication functions. In addition, the present inventionrelates to storage media used in such mobile terminal devices to holdpreferred computer programs, and sound output control methods preferablyused in the mobile terminal devices.

2. Disclosure of the Related Art

Conventionally, each mobile telephone has a speaker and a microphone fortelephone communications on one surface of the device main body. Duringtelephone communications, a user holds the telephone communicationspeaker close to his/her ear to hear voices from a communicationpartner.

To provide users with clear sounds, it is conceivable to employ aso-called cartilage-conduction speaker as a speaker for telephonecommunications on such a mobile telephone.

The cartilage-conduction speaker includes a vibration plate such as apiezoelectric vibration element, and uses the vibration plate to vibrateone surface of the device main body. When a user brings one surface ofthe device main body into contact with his/her ear, the user's auricularcartilage is vibrated by the vibrations of the one surface, and thevibrations of the auricular cartilage are transferred to his/her eardrumto vibrate the eardrum. Accordingly, the user's brain recognizes sounds.

A mobile telephone with such a cartilage-conduction speaker generatessound waves by vibrations of one surface of the device main body. Theuser can also recognize sounds by transfer of the sound waves to his/hereardrum. However, the sound pressure of generated sound waves is low atthe cartilage-conduction speaker.

When a mobile telephone includes a cartilage-conduction speaker, theuser can hear clear sounds by holding the device main body in contactwith his/her ear. However, it is not easy for the user to hold thedevice naturally in constant contact with his/her ear during telephonecommunications. When the device main body is separated from his/her ear,transfer of sounds via the auricular cartilage is interrupted. Althoughsounds are transferred by sound waves, the user cannot easily hear thesounds due to a low sound pressure.

Depending on sound information obtained during telephone communications,in some cases, it is more undesired that transfer of sounds isinterrupted due to separation of the device main body from a user's ear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mobile terminal device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention includes: a housing; a telephone communication speaker whichoutputs sounds during telephone communications; and a control modulewhich controls output of the telephone communication speaker. Thetelephone communication speaker includes: a first speaker which releasessound waves corresponding to sounds to be output and vibration wavesgenerated by vibrations of one surface of the housing according tovibrations corresponding to the sounds to be output, thereby to transferthe sounds; and a second speaker which releases sound wavescorresponding to sounds to be output. In this arrangement, in case ofexecution of a function to output sounds from the telephonecommunication speaker, when a predetermined trigger action is not made,the control module executes first control in which the first speakeroutputs sounds but the second speaker does not output sounds, and whenthe trigger action is made, the control module executes second controlin which at least the second speaker outputs sounds.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a storage mediumwhich holds a computer program applied to the mobile terminal device.The mobile terminal device includes: a housing; and a telephonecommunication speaker which outputs sounds during telephonecommunications, wherein the telephone communication speaker includes: afirst speaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to beoutput and vibration waves generated by vibrations of one surface of thehousing according to vibrations corresponding to the sounds to beoutput, thereby to transfer the sounds; and a second speaker whichreleases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output. The computerprogram provides a computer of the mobile terminal device with afunction to, in case of execution of a function to output sounds fromthe telephone communication speaker, when a predetermined trigger actionis not made, execute first control in which the first speaker outputssounds but the second speaker does not output sounds, and when thetrigger action is made, execute second control in which at least thesecond speaker outputs sounds.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to a sound outputcontrol method for a mobile terminal device including: a housing; and atelephone communication speaker which outputs sounds during telephonecommunications, the telephone communication speaker including: a firstspeaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be outputand vibration waves generated by vibrations of one surface of thehousing according to vibrations corresponding to the sounds to beoutput, thereby to transfer the sounds; and a second speaker whichreleases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output. The soundoutput control method according to this aspect includes the steps of:executing a function to output sounds from the telephone communicationspeaker; and in case of execution of the function, when a predeterminedtrigger action is not made, executing first control in which the firstspeaker outputs sounds but the second speaker does not output sounds,and when the trigger action is made, executing second control in whichat least the second speaker outputs sounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objectives and novel features of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionof preferred embodiments when reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams showing a configuration of a mobiletelephone according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of the mobiletelephone according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a received sound output process according tothe first embodiment; and FIG. 3B is a flowchart of a notification soundoutput process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a received sound output process according to amodification example 1 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a notification sound output process accordingto a modification example 2 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a received sound output process according to asecond embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a received sound output process according to amodification example of the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a received sound output process according to athird embodiment;

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile telephoneaccording to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a flowchart of areceived sound output process according to the fourth embodiment;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a configuration of a mobiletelephone according to another modification example; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a notification sound output process accordingto another modification example.

However, the drawings are intended only for illustration and do notlimit the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference tothe drawings.

In the embodiments, a cabinet 2 corresponds to a “housing” described inthe claims. A front surface 2 a corresponds to “one surface of thehousing” described in the claims. A telephone communication speakermodule SP corresponds to a “telephone communication speaker” describedin the claims. A first telephone communication speaker 5 corresponds toa “first speaker” described in the claims. A second telephonecommunication speaker 6 corresponds to a “second speaker” described inthe claims. A key operation part 7 corresponds to a “first controlswitch operation module” and a “second control switch operation module”described in the claims. A proximity sensor 9 corresponds to a“proximity detection module” described in the claims. However, theforegoing correspondences between the claims and the description of theembodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the claims to theembodiments.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams showing a configuration of a mobiletelephone 1. FIGS. 1A and 1B are a front view and a back view of themobile telephone 1, respectively. FIG. 1C is a partial cross-sectionalview of the cabinet 2 showing a configuration of a telephonecommunication speaker module SP.

In the following description, for the sake of convenience, a longer sideof the cabinet 2 is defined as a vertical side, and a shorter side ofthe cabinet 2 is defined as a horizontal side, as shown in FIGS. 1A and1B.

The mobile telephone 1 includes the cabinet 2, a display surface 3, amicrophone 4, the telephone communication speaker module SP (a firsttelephone communication speaker 5 and a second telephone communicationspeaker 6), a key operation part 7, and an external speaker 8.

The cabinet 2 has an almost rectangular outline as viewed from the frontside. The cabinet 2 includes on a front surface 2 a thereof a displaysurface 3 of a display module described later. That is, the frontsurface 2 a of the cabinet 2 is formed by the display surface 3 and aframe surrounding the display surface 3. Various images (screens) aredisplayed on the display surface 3.

The cabinet 2 contains the microphone 4 at a lower end part thereof andthe telephone communication speaker module SP at an upper end partthereof. The telephone communication speaker module SP is formed by afirst telephone communication speaker 5 and a second telephonecommunication speaker 6, and mainly outputs sounds received from acommunication partner during telephone communications.

The cabinet 2 has on the front surface 2 a thereof a microphone hole 4 aat a position corresponding to the microphone 4. Sounds taken in fromthe microphone hole 4 a are input into the microphone 4. The microphone4 generates an electrical signal according to the input sounds.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the first telephone communication speaker 5 is aso-called cartilage-conduction speaker, and may include a piezoelectricvibration element 50, for example. The piezoelectric vibration element50 has a bimorph structure with a shim material 50 a, a firstpiezoelectric ceramic plate 50 b, and a second piezoelectric ceramicplate 50 c. The first piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 b is attached toone side of the shim material 50 a and the second piezoelectric ceramicplate 50 c is attached to the other side of the shim material 50 a.

AC voltages are applied to the first piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 band the second piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 c. The AC voltage appliedto the first piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 b and the AC voltage appliedto the second piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 c are phase-shifted fromeach other by 180 degrees. With the application of these AC voltages, anoperation of extending the first piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 b andshrinking the second piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 c and an operationof shrinking the first piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 b and extendingthe second piezoelectric ceramic plate 50 c are repeatedly performed tovibrate the piezoelectric vibration element 50.

The piezoelectric vibration element 50 is attached by an adhesive 51 toan inner side of the front surface 2 a of the cabinet 2.

The piezoelectric vibration element 50 vibrates according to electricsignals corresponding to sounds. When the piezoelectric vibrationelement 50 vibrates, the vibrations corresponding to the sounds aretransferred to the front surface 2 a of the cabinet 2, thereby tovibrate the front surface 2 a. When a user puts the front surface 2 a ofthe cabinet 2 to his/her ear, that is, when the user holds his/her earclose to the front surface 2 a or brings his/her ear into contact withthe front surface 2 a, sound waves generated by vibrations of thecabinet 2 enter into the ear canal through the ear canal hole. Theincoming sound waves move in the ear canal and vibrate the ear drum.Accordingly, the user's brain recognizes the sounds. Further, when theuser bring his/her ear into contact with the front surface 2 a of thecabinet 2, the auricular cartilage vibrates according to vibrations ofthe cabinet 2, and the vibrations of the auricular cartilage aretransferred to the ear drum, thereby to vibrate the ear drum.Accordingly, the user's brain recognizes the sounds.

The first telephone communication speaker 5, that is, the piezoelectricvibration element 50 may not be attached to a back surface of a frameabove the display surface 3, unlike in the foregoing description, butmay be attached to the back surface of the display module 13.

The second telephone communication speaker 6 is a so-calledair-conduction speaker. The second telephone communication speaker 6outputs sound waves corresponding to sounds. The cabinet 2 has on thefront surface 2 a thereof a sound outlet 6 a corresponding to the secondtelephone communication speaker 6. The sound outlet 6 a is formed by onehole. The sounds, that is, the sound waves output from the secondtelephone communication speaker 6 are released to the outside via thesound outlet 6 a. When the user puts the front surface 2 a of thecabinet 2 to his/her ear, the sound waves released from the sound outlet6 a enter into the ear canal through the ear canal hole, thereby tovibrate the eardrum. Accordingly, the user's brain recognizes sounds.

As described above, in the first telephone communication speaker 5 (thepiezoelectric vibration element 50), the cabinet 2 vibrates andgenerates sound waves, and thus the user can hear sounds even when thecabinet 2 is separated from the user's ear. However, sound wavesgenerated by vibrations of the cabinet 2 are smaller in sound pressurethan sound waves output from the second telephone communication speaker6. Accordingly, sounds transferred from the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 to the user's ear are significantly smaller thansounds from the second telephone communication speaker 6.

Specifically, sounds from the first telephone communication speaker 5are less likely to leak to the surroundings than sounds from the secondtelephone communication speaker 6. On the other hand, when the userreleases the cabinet 2 from his/her ear, the user can less easily hearsounds from the first telephone communication speaker 5 than sounds fromthe second telephone communication speaker 6. Meanwhile, sounds from thesecond telephone communication speaker 6 are more likely to leak to thesurroundings than sounds from the first telephone communication speaker5. On the other hand, even when the user releases the cabinet 2 fromhis/her ear, the user can more easily hear sounds from the secondtelephone communication speaker 6 than sounds from the first telephonecommunication speaker 5.

The cabinet 2 includes a key operation part 7 on the front surface 2 a.The key operation part 7 includes a plurality of operation keys. Theoperation keys are assigned various functions according to a programunder execution or the like.

The cabinet 2 contains an external speaker 8. The external speaker 8 isan air-conduction speaker as with the second telephone communicationspeaker 6. The cabinet 2 has on the back surface 2 b thereof a soundoutlet 8 a corresponding to the external speaker 8. The sound outlet 8 ais formed by a plurality of holes. Sounds output from the externalspeaker 8 (voices, notification sounds, and the like), that is, soundwaves are released to the outside via the sound outlet 8 a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an entire configuration of the mobiletelephone 1. The mobile telephone 1 includes a control module 11, astorage module 12, a display module 13, a touch detection module 14, asound input module 15, a sound output module 16, a sound processingmodule 17, a key input module 18, and a communication module 19.

The storage module 12 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The storagemodule 12 stores various programs. The programs stored in the storagemodule 12 include control programs for controlling components of themobile telephone 1 and various applications (for telephone, e-mail, map,game, schedule management, for example).

The storage module 12 is also used as a working area for storing datatemporarily used or generated at execution of a program.

The control module 11 includes a CPU and the like. The control module 11controls components (the storage module 12, the display module 13, thetouch detection module 14, the sound input module 15, the sound outputmodule 16, the sound processing module 17, the key input module 18, thecommunication module 19, and others) constituting the mobile telephone 1according to the programs.

The display module 13 includes a liquid crystal display and the like.The display module 13 displays an image (screen) on the display surface3 according to a control signal and an image signal from the controlmodule 11. The display module 13 may include any other display devicesuch as an organic EL display in place of the liquid crystal display.

The touch detection module 14 includes a touch panel and the like fordetecting contact with the display surface 3 by a finger, a touch pen,or the like (hereinafter, referred simply to as “finger”). The touchpanel is formed into a transparent sheet and is disposed on the frontsurface 2 a of the cabinet 2 so as to cover the display surface 3. Thetouch panel may be any of touch panels of various types such as anelectric capacity type, an ultrasonic wave type, a pressure sensitivetype, a resistance film type, and a photo detective type.

The touch detection module 14 detects touch on the display surface 3 bya user. Specifically, the touch detection module 14 detects a positionon the display surface 3 contacted by a finger as an input position, andoutputs a position signal corresponding to the detected input positionto the control module 11.

The user can perform various touch operations by touching the displaysurface 3 by a finger. The touch operations include a tap operation, aflick operation, a slide operation, and the like. The tap operation isperformed by touching the display surface 3 by a finger and thenreleasing the finger in a short time. The flick operation is performedby flipping the display surface 3 by a finger in an arbitrary direction.The slide operation is performed by touching and holding the displaysurface 3 by a finger and moving the finger in an arbitrary direction.

For example, the mobile telephone 1 replies to an incoming call orinitiates a call to a specific communication partner according to touchoperations by the user. More specifically, when the touch detectionmodule 14 detects a touch operation performed on an icon (also referredto a minified image) corresponding to a reply to an incoming call thatis displayed on the display surface 3 or on an icon corresponding toexecution of initiating a call that is displayed on the display surface3, the control module 11 having received the result of the detectionexecutes a process for receiving an incoming call or initiating a call.

The sound input module 15 includes the microphone 4 and the like. Thesound input module 15 outputs electric signals from the microphone 4 tothe sound processing module 17.

The sound output module 16 includes the first telephone communicationspeaker 5, the second telephone communication speaker 6, the externalspeaker 8, a drive module 16 a, and the like. An electric signal from asound processing module 17 is input into the sound output module 16.Based on the input electrical signal, the drive module 16 a drives thefirst telephone communication speaker 5, the second telephonecommunication speaker 6, or the external speaker 8, according to acontrol signal from the control module 11. Accordingly, the firsttelephone communication speaker 5, the second telephone communicationspeaker 6, or the external speaker 8 outputs sounds (voices,notification sounds, and the like).

The sound processing module 17 subjects an electric signal from thesound input module 15 to A/D conversion and the like, and outputs aconverted digital sound signal to the control module 11. The soundprocessing module 17 subjects the digital sound signal from the controlmodule 11 to a decoding process and D/A conversion and the like, andoutputs a converted electric signal to the sound output module 16.

When any of the operation keys in the key operation part is pressed, thekey input module 18 outputs a signal corresponding to the pressedoperation key to the control module 11. The operation keys include anoperation key for the mobile telephone 1 to start communications whenpressed by the user on arrival of an incoming call, and an operation keyfor the mobile telephone 1 to initiate a call to a specificcommunication partner when pressed by the user.

To perform telephone calls and data communications, the communicationmodule 19 includes a circuit for signal conversion, an antenna for radiowave transmission/reception, and the like. The communication module 19converts a signal for telephone calls or data communications input fromthe control module 11 into a radio signal, and transmits the convertedradio signal via the antenna to a base station or another communicationdevice or the like as a destination of communications. The communicationmodule 19 also converts radio signals received via the antenna into asignal in a form capable of being used by the control module 11, andoutputs the converted signal to the control module 11.

In this embodiment, when an icon corresponding to a telephoneapplication is operated, or when an incoming call from another mobiletelephone or the like has arrived, the telephone application isexecuted. The telephone application is one of functions of the mobiletelephone 1 in which sounds are output from the telephone communicationspeaker module SP.

When a communication partner or the user starts telephone communicationsby performing an operation for starting telephone communications, soundsreceived from the communication partner are output from the telephonecommunication speaker module SP according to a received sound outputprocess described later during the telephone communications. Further,predetermined notification sound(s) to be output during the telephonecommunications are output from the telephone communication speakermodule SP according to a notification sound output process describedlater.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of the received sound output process. When thetelephone application is executed, the received sound output process isstarted.

The control module 11 determines whether telephone communications arestarted (S101). When telephone communications are started (S101: YES),the control module 11 sends sound signals corresponding to soundsreceived by the communication module 19 to the sound output module 16via the sound processing module 17, and controls the drive module 16 ato output the received sounds from the first telephone communicationspeaker 5 (S102). The control module 11 does not cause the secondtelephone communication speaker 6 to output the received sounds.

When the telephone communications are ended by an operation forterminating telephone communications (S103: YES), the control module 11terminates the received sound output process.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart of the notification sound output process.

The storage module 12 stores predetermined notification sounds to beoutput in the notification sound output process. The predeterminednotification sounds include an alarm sound to be output at a time set bythe user, an alert sound to be output at a low battery charge, an alertsound to be output on arrival of an emergency announcement, and thelike, for example. These notification sounds are sound information theuser does not wish to fail to miss as much as possible.

When the mobile telephone 1 is activated, the notification sound outputprocess is started. During operation of the mobile telephone 1, thenotification sound output process is repeatedly executed.

The control module 11 determines whether a timing for outputting apredetermined notification sound has come (S201). In the case thenotification sound is an alarm sound for notifying the coming of a settime, the timing for outputting the notification sound falls on thecoming of the set time. In the case the notification sound is an alertsound for an emergency announcement, the timing for outputting thenotification sound falls on the arrival of the emergency announcement.

When determining that the output timing has come (S201: YES), thecontrol module 11 further determines whether telephone communicationsare currently being performed (S202). When telephone communications arebeing performed (S202: YES), the control module 11 sends a sound signalcorresponding to the notification sound to the sound output module 16via the sound processing module 17, and controls the drive module 16 ato output the notification sound from the second telephone communicationspeaker 6 (S203).

When a timing for terminating output of the notification sound has come,for example, when a period of time for outputting the notification soundhas elapsed (S204: YES), the control module 11 terminates thenotification sound output process.

When determining at step S202 that no telephone communications are beingperformed (S202: NO), the control module 11 causes the external speaker8 to output the notification sound (S205). When the timing forterminating output of the notification sound has come (S206: YES), thecontrol module 11 terminates the notification sound output process.

Even when the notification sound is output from the second telephonecommunication speaker 6 during telephone communications, the controlmodule 11 causes the first telephone communication speaker 5 to outputsounds received by the communication module 19, according to thereceived sound output process shown in FIG. 3A.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 outputs received sounds, and thus the user canhear clear received sounds by holding the cabinet 2 in contact withhis/her ear without great influence of surrounding noise and the like.Further, it is possible to suppress leakage of received sounds to thesurroundings.

Further, according to this embodiment, the second telephonecommunication speaker 6 outputs predetermined notification sounds theuser does not wish to fail to miss, and thus the user can sufficientlyhear the predetermined notification sounds even with the cabinet 2separated from his/her ear.

<Modification Example 1 of the First Embodiment>

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a received sound output process according to amodification example 1.

As in this modification example, in the mobile telephone 1 of thepresent invention, when a predetermined notification sound is output,the destination of output of received sounds may be switched from thefirst telephone communication speaker 5 to the second telephonecommunication speaker 6, such that the first telephone communicationspeaker 5 does not output sounds.

In this modification example, steps S111 and S112 are added to thenotification sound output process in the first embodiment. Theadditional steps will be described below.

The control module 11 determines whether a predetermined notificationsound is output during telephone communications (S111). When nopredetermined notification sound is output (S111: NO), the controlmodule 11 causes the first telephone communication speaker 5 to outputreceived sounds (S102).

When the first telephone communication speaker 5 starts to output apredetermined notification sound (S111: YES), the control module 11causes the second telephone communication speaker 6 to output receivedsounds (S112). The second telephone communication speaker 6 outputs apredetermined notification sound and received sounds. When output of thepredetermined notification sound is completed (S111: NO), the controlmodule 11 causes again the first telephone communication speaker 5 tooutput received sounds (S102).

<Modification Example 2 of the First Embodiment>

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a notification sound output process accordingto a modification example 2.

In this modification example, steps S211 to S214 are added to thenotification sound output process in the first embodiment. Theadditional steps will be described below.

When a timing for outputting a predetermined notification sound has comeduring telephone communications (S202: YES), the control module 11determines whether a switch operation for switching the destination ofoutput of the predetermined notification sound from the second telephonecommunication speaker 6 to the first telephone communication speaker 5(equivalent to the switch operation from the second control to the firstcontrol in the present invention) is performed (S211). For example, oneoperation key in the key operation part 7 is assigned to the switchoperation.

As described above, sounds from the second telephone communicationspeaker 6 are more likely to leak to the surroundings than sounds fromthe first telephone communication speaker 5. When it is desired tosuppress leakage of a notification sound to the surroundings, forexample, the user performs the switch operation.

When determining that the switch operation is performed (S211: YES), thecontrol module 11 causes the first telephone communication speaker 5 tooutput the notification sound (S212).

While the timing for terminating output of the notification sound hasnot come (S213: NO), the control module 11 determines whether a returnoperation for returning the destination of output of a predeterminednotification sound from the first telephone communication speaker 5 tothe second telephone communication speaker 6 is performed (S214). Forexample, one operation key in the key operation part 7 is assigned tothe return operation. The operation key assigned to the return operationmay be the same as or different from the operation key assigned to theswitch operation.

When determining that the return operation is performed (S214: YES), thecontrol module 11 causes the second telephone communication speaker 6 tooutput the notification sound (S203).

As described above, according to this modification example, the user canswitch the destination of output of the notification sound from thesecond telephone communication speaker 6 to the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 according to the conditions of the surroundings.This improves the mobile telephone 1 in user convenience.

Second Embodiment

In this embodiment, during telephone communications with a predeterminedcommunication partner, received sounds are output from the secondtelephone communication speaker 6.

The storage module 12 stores information indicative of predeterminedcommunication partners, for example, telephone numbers. Thepredetermined communication partners can be stored in the storage module12 by the user performing a registration operation in advance on apredetermined setting screen. For example, as predetermined telephonecommunication partners, the user registers communication partners fromwhich the user does not wish to cause received sounds to be interrupted,such as business partners.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a received sound output process. Configurationsin this embodiment other than a configuration of the received soundoutput process are identical to those in the first embodiment.

When telephone communications are started (S301: YES), the controlmodule 11 compares the telephone number of the current communicationpartner with the telephone numbers stored in the storage module 12, forexample, thereby to determine whether the current communication partneris a predetermined communication partner (S302).

When the current communication partner is not a predeterminedcommunication partner (S302: NO), the control module 11 causes the firsttelephone communication speaker 5 to output received sounds (S303). Thecontrol module 11 does not cause the second telephone communicationspeaker 6 to output received sounds. When the telephone communicationsare ended (S304: YES), the control module 11 terminates the receivedsound output process.

Meanwhile, when determining that the current communication partner is apredetermined communication partner (S302: YES), the control module 11causes the second telephone communication speaker 6 to output receivedsounds (S305). The control module 11 does not cause the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 to output received sounds. At the end of thetelephone communications (S306: YES), the control module 11 terminatesthe received sound output process.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 outputs sounds received from a communicationpartner other than predetermined communication partners, and thus theuser can hear clear received sounds by holding the cabinet 2 in contactwith his/her ear, without large influence of surrounding noise and thelike. Further, it is possible to suppress leakage of received sounds tothe surroundings.

Further, according to this embodiment, the second telephonecommunication speaker 6 outputs sounds received from a predeterminedtelephone communication partner the user does not wish to fail to miss,and thus the user can hear sufficiently sounds received from apredetermined telephone communication partner even with the cabinet 2separated from his/her ear.

<Modification Example of the Second Embodiment>

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a received sound output process according to amodification example.

In this embodiment, steps S311 to S313 are added to the received soundoutput process in the first embodiment. The added steps will bedescribed below.

While the second telephone communication speaker 6 outputs soundsreceived from a predetermined communication partner, the control module11 determines whether a switch operation for switching the destinationof output of received sounds from the second telephone communicationspeaker 6 to the first telephone communication speaker 5 (equivalent tothe operation for switching from the second control to the first controlin the present invention) is performed (S311). For example, oneoperation key in the key operation part 7 is assigned to the switchoperation.

For example, when surrounding noise is large or when leakage of anotification sound to the surroundings is to be suppressed, the userperforms the switch operation.

When determining that the switch operation is performed (S311: YES), thecontrol module 11 causes the first telephone communication speaker 5 tooutput received sounds (S303).

When the destination of output is switched from the second telephonecommunication speaker 6 to the first telephone communication speaker 5during telephone communications (S312: YES), the control module 11determines whether a return operation for returning the destination ofoutput of received sounds from the first telephone communication speaker5 to the second telephone communication speaker 6 is performed (S313).For example, one operation key in the key operation part 7 is assignedto the return operation.

When determining that the return operation is performed (S313: YES), thecontrol module 11 causes the second telephone communication speaker 6 tooutput received sounds (S305).

As described above, according to this modification example, the user canswitch the destination of output of received sounds from the secondtelephone communication speaker 6 to the first telephone communicationspeaker 5 according to the conditions of the surroundings. This improvesthe mobile telephone 1 in user convenience.

Third Embodiment

In this embodiment, when the switch operation is performed by the userduring telephone communications, the second telephone communicationspeaker 6 outputs received sounds.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a received sound output process. Configurationsin this embodiment other than a configuration of the received soundoutput process are identical to those in the first embodiment.

When telephone communications are started (S401: YES), the controlmodule 11 determines whether a switch operation for switching thedestination of output of received sounds from the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 to the second telephone communication speaker 6(equivalent to the operation for switching from the first control to thesecond control in the present invention) is performed (S402). Forexample, one operation key in the key operation part 7 is assigned tothe switch operation.

When the switch operation is not performed (S402: NO), the controlmodule 11 causes the first telephone communication speaker 5 to outputreceived sounds (S403). The control module 11 does not cause the secondtelephone communication speaker 6 to output received sounds. Whentelephone communications are ended (S404: YES), the control module 11terminates the received sound output process.

The control module 11 continues monitoring for the switch operationuntil telephone communications are ended (S402).

For example, the user may possibly perform the switch operation when theuser is likely to separate the cabinet 2 from his/her ear and missreceived sounds because the user is walking or is tossed in a train orthe like. Otherwise, the user may possibly perform the switch operationin the case the contents of telephone communications are important andshould not be missed.

When the switch operation is performed (S402: YES), the control module11 causes the second telephone communication speaker 6 to outputreceived sounds (S405). The control module 11 does not cause the firsttelephone communication speaker 5 to output received sounds. Whentelephone communications are ended (S406: YES), the control module 11terminates the received sound output process.

The control module 11 determines whether the return operation isperformed until telephone communications are ended (S407). For example,one operation key in the key operation part 7 is assigned to the returnoperation.

When determining that the return operation is performed (S407: YES), thecontrol module 11 causes again the first telephone communication speaker5 to output received sounds (S403).

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the switchoperation is not performed, the first telephone communication speaker 5outputs received sounds, and thus the user can hear clear receivedsounds by holding the cabinet 2 in contact with his/her ear, withoutlarge influence of surrounding noise and the like. Further, it ispossible to suppress leakage of received sounds to the surroundings.

Further, according to this embodiment, when the switch operation isperformed, the second telephone communication speaker 6 outputs receivedsounds, and thus the user can sufficiently hear received sounds evenwith the cabinet 2 separated from his/her ear.

Fourth Embodiment

In this embodiment, when the cabinet 2 is separated from the user's earduring telephone communications, the second telephone communicationspeaker 6 outputs received sounds.

FIG. 9A is a diagram (front view) showing a configuration of the mobiletelephone 1. FIG. 9B is a flowchart of a received sound output process.

In this embodiment, the cabinet 2 has on the upper end part thereof aproximity sensor 9. The proximity sensor 9 is adjusted in sensitivity soas to output a detection signal to the control module 11 when the user'sear contacts a region on the front surface 2 a of the cabinet 2 in thevicinity of the proximity sensor 9. The proximity sensor 9 may bedisposed at any position on the cabinet 2 as far as the proximity sensor9 is capable of detecting the presence or absence of contact of theuser's ear on the front surface 2 a of the cabinet 2.

Upon reception of the detection signal from the proximity sensor 9, thecontrol module 11 determines that the user's ear is in contact with thecabinet 2. When the detection signal disappears, the control module 11determines that the user's ear is separated from the cabinet 2.

Configurations in this embodiment other than a configuration of thereceived sound output process are identical to those in the firstembodiment.

The received sound output process will be described with reference toFIG. 9B.

When telephone communications are started (S501: YES), the controlmodule 11 determines whether the user's ear is separated from thecabinet 2 (S502). This determination is made when it is detected thatthe user's ear is in contact with the cabinet 2 for the first time afterthe telephone communications are started.

When the user's ear is in contact with the cabinet 2 (S502: NO), thecontrol module 11 causes the first telephone communication speaker 5 tooutput received sounds (S503). The control module 11 does not cause thesecond telephone communication speaker 6 to output received sounds. Whenthe telephone communications are ended (S504: YES), the control module11 terminates the received sound output process.

The control module 11 continues to monitor to determine whether theuser's ear is separated from the cabinet 2 until the telephonecommunications are ended (S502).

When detecting that the user's ear is separated from the cabinet 2(S502: YES), the control module 11 causes the second telephonecommunication speaker 6 to output received sounds (S505). The controlmodule 11 does not cause the first telephone communication speaker 5 tooutput received sounds. When the telephone communications are ended(S506: YES), the control module 11 terminates the received sound outputprocess.

The control module 11 determines whether the user's ear contacts thecabinet 2 until the telephone communications are ended (S507).

When determining that the user's ear is in contact with the cabinet 2(S507: YES), the control module 11 causes again the first telephonecommunication speaker 5 to output received sounds (S503).

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the user's earcontacts the cabinet 2, the first telephone communication speaker 5outputs received sounds, and thus the user can hear clear receivedsounds without large influence of surrounding noise and the like.Further, it is possible to suppress leakage of received sounds to thesurroundings.

Further, according to this embodiment, when the user's ear is separatedfrom the cabinet 2, the second telephone communication speaker 6 outputsreceived sounds, and thus the user can sufficiently hear received soundseven with the cabinet 2 separated from his/her ear.

Others

As in the foregoing, embodiments and modification examples of thepresent invention are described. However, the present invention is notlimited by the foregoing embodiments and the like, and the embodimentsof the present invention can also be modified in various manners otherthan the above-described manners.

For example, the external speaker 8 is provided in the first embodiment.Alternatively, the external speaker 8 may not be provided. In this case,as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the telephone communication speakermodule SP includes a second telephone communication speaker 10 with awide volume range, and the second telephone communication speaker 10 canalso be used as an external speaker. Further, a notification soundoutput process shown in FIG. 11 is executed. When a predeterminednotification sound is to be output during telephone communications, thecontrol module 11 causes the second telephone communication speaker 10to output the notification sound at low volume through a sound outlet 10a (S221). When a predetermined notification sound is to be output notduring telephone communications, the control module 11 causes the secondtelephone communication speaker 10 to output the notification sound athigh volume through the sound outlet 10 a (S222).

In the modification example 2 of the first embodiment, the modificationexample of the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, operationkeys in the key operation part 7 are assigned to the switch operationand the return operation. However, the present invention is not limitedto this, but the control module 11 may display on the display surface 3software keys assigned to the switch operation and the return operation.

The first to fourth embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

In the fourth embodiment, the proximity sensor 9 detects whether theuser's ear contacts the cabinet 2. However, the present invention is notlimited to this, but the touch panel in the touch detection module 14may be used to detect whether the user's ear contacts the cabinet 2, forexample. In this case, during telephone communications, any touchoperation on the display surface 3 is disabled, and operation(s) relatedto telephone communications are performed from the key operation part 7.

Further, in the foregoing first to fourth embodiments, the presentinvention is applied to smart phone-type mobile telephones. However, theapplication of the present invention is not limited to this but thepresent invention may be applied to other types of mobile telephonessuch as a straight type, a folding type, and a slide type.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited to mobile telephones andcan be applied to mobile terminal devices such as PDAs (personal digitalassistants), tablet PCs, digital book terminals, or the like.

Besides, the embodiment of the present invention can be modified asappropriate in various manners within the scope of technical ideasdisclosed in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal device, comprising: a housing;a telephone communication speaker which outputs sounds during telephonecommunications; and a control module which controls output of thetelephone communication speaker, wherein the telephone communicationspeaker includes: a first speaker which releases sound wavescorresponding to sounds to be output and vibration waves generated byvibrations of one surface of the housing according to vibrationscorresponding to the sounds to be output, thereby to transfer thesounds; and a second speaker which releases sound waves corresponding tosounds to be output, and in case of execution of a function to outputsounds from the telephone communication speaker, when a predeterminedtrigger action is not made, the control module executes first control inwhich the first speaker outputs sounds but the second speaker does notoutput sounds, and when the trigger action is made, the control moduleexecutes second control in which at least the second speaker outputssounds.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein it is determinedthat the trigger action is made when a sound with a predeterminedattribute is output from the telephone communication speaker, and whenthe sound with a predetermined attribute is output, the control moduleexecutes the second control.
 3. The device according to claim 2, whereinthe sound with a predetermined attribute includes a predeterminednotification sound, and when the predetermined notification sounds isoutput from the telephone communication speaker, the control moduleexecutes the second control.
 4. The device according to claim 2, whereinthe sound with a predetermined attribute includes a sound received froma predetermined communication partner, and when the sound received fromthe predetermined communication partner is output from the telephonecommunication speaker, the control module executes the second control.5. The device according to claim 2, further comprising: a second controlswitch operation module which accepts a switch operation from the secondcontrol to the first control, wherein when the switch operation from thesecond control to the first control is accepted during execution of thesecond control, the control module executes the first control instead ofthe second control.
 6. The device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a first control switch operation module which accepts aswitch operation from the first control to the second control, whereinit is determined that the trigger action is made when the switchoperation from the first control to the second control is accepted, andwhen the switch operation from the first control to the second controlis accepted, the control module executes the second control.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, further comprising: a contact detectionmodule which detects whether a detection target is in contact with thehousing, wherein it is determined that the trigger action is made whenthe detection target is separated from the housing, and when thedetection target is separated from the housing, the control moduleexecutes the second control.
 8. A non-transitory storage medium holdinga computer program for a mobile terminal device comprising: a housing;and a telephone communication speaker which outputs sounds duringtelephone communications, the telephone communication speaker including:a first speaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to beoutput and vibration waves generated by vibrations of one surface of thehousing according to vibrations corresponding to the sounds to beoutput, thereby to transfer the sounds; and a second speaker whichreleases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output, wherein thecomputer program provides a computer of the mobile terminal device witha function to, in case of execution of a function to output sounds fromthe telephone communication speaker, when a predetermined trigger actionis not made, execute first control in which the first speaker outputssounds but the second speaker does not output sounds, and when thetrigger action is made, execute second control in which at least thesecond speaker outputs sounds.
 9. A sound output control method for amobile terminal device comprising: a housing; and a telephonecommunication speaker which outputs sounds during telephonecommunications, the telephone communication speaker including: a firstspeaker which releases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be outputand vibration waves generated by vibrations of one surface of thehousing according to vibrations corresponding to the sounds to beoutput, thereby to transfer the sounds; and a second speaker whichreleases sound waves corresponding to sounds to be output, wherein themethod comprises the steps of: executing a function to output soundsfrom the telephone communication speaker; and in case of execution ofthe function, when a predetermined trigger action is not made, executingfirst control in which the first speaker outputs sounds but the secondspeaker does not output sounds, and when the trigger action is made,executing second control in which at least the second speaker outputssounds.